CATHOLIC TEACHERS: part of Church’s mission

In his keynote address to the Diocesan Catholic Educators Conference on Nov. 16, Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey told teachers they were an integral part of his mission to teach the faith. The bishop’s presentation focused on, “The Church Calls the Faithful to a Year of Faith.”

“We have a diversity in the Church, but the message is always the same,” Bishop Mulvey said in his homily at the Mass preceding the conference, held at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center.

Catholic teachers from throughout the Diocese of Corpus Christi participated in the 27th annual conference sponsored by the Office of Catholic Schools of the diocese.  The forum covered topics from “Bully Prevention” approaches to “Finding Gospel Values in Children’s Stories.”

Bishop Mulvey told the educators there was little he could help them with when it came to teaching math or science, but he could provide them with encouragement with their faith so that they could promote a true Catholic identity. 

The bishop engaged the teachers on their knowledge of the Second Vatican Council which brought about great change in the Church and whose jubilee prompted Pope Benedict XVI to call for the “Year of Faith”. While the council made significant changes to how the Mass is celebrated, it did not change what was celebrated. It “did not change the doctrine” but called for a more “passionate presentation,” Bishop Mulvey said.

Only one of the 16 documents adopted by the council addressed the liturgy, but it its content remains the one most recognizable to the faithful. Many of the other documents provided guidance on the “role of the laity in the world,” the bishop said.

The Second Vatican Council did not only invite the laity to participate in the Mass where its help was needed–that, however, was not their central role in the Church in the modern world. It called them to “form a good and just society.” Catholics are called to promote and protect the faith in the public square as “good Catholic politicians,” and “to form good holy marriages.”

The council provided guidance on how to speak out, how to get along with other denominations and other religions, how to implement education, how to engage in social communications, and more. While the challenges were pronounced and much change has come about, the faithful always need renewal, which is why the Holy Father called for the “Year of Faith”.

“The call of the Year of Faith is to rediscover who we are,” Bishop Mulvey said. “To rediscover the joy and enthusiasm of our encounter with Jesus Christ.”

The bishop encouraged educators to employ their pedagogics of teaching to learn and promote the faith. “Diagram each sentence. Break down the Creed sentence by sentence, clause by clause, adjective by adjective,” the bishop said. He encouraged them to use the Catechism of the Catholic Church to find answers to their questions about the faith.

“Our office worked diligently to make this event one that will be an enriching experience for all educators in our Catholic schools. It is our hope that they take with them a feeling of renewal and affirmation for the wonderful work they do in our Catholic schools,” Superintendent of Catholic Schools René González said.